Surely anyone who works with Windows operating systems, at least once, but accessed a system service called "Task Manager". Most ordinary users use this applet only to terminate hung processes, completely unaware of its true purpose and capabilities. Further, it is proposed to consider this topic in more detail, since this tool can be used for such purposes that many do not know, but do not even guess.
What is "Task Manager"?
And first, let's look at what kind of service it is. Based on the name, it is not difficult to guess that this applet was originally created in order to keep track of all active processes currently taking place in the system, including both running user applications and background system processes.
Naturally, this is where the average user tries to terminate those programs that have stopped responding. But sometimes you have to take action.wisely, because terminating some processes can lead to instability of the entire system.
What does Task Manager do?
But back to the main question. In fact, there are many more opportunities in the service. So, for example, it can be used to monitor system performance (for this, the performance tab can be used, where you can track the load on the processor and RAM in real time, as well as find out the speed of data exchange on the hard drive or on the network.
In addition, the "Task Manager" allows you to find out the load on system resources by sorting all active processes by using the same processor or RAM. Thus, you can immediately find out which process loads the computer system the most, and if necessary (unless it is a system service) stop it. But that's not all. We will dwell on additional features a little later, but for now let's see how to open the "Task Manager" in several simple ways, which many users may not even have a clue about.
Applet launch methods
Everyone, even a novice user, knows that you can use the classic 3-finger combination in the form of a keyboard shortcut Ctrl + "Image" + Del to start the service. This option was introduced in Windows 95.
Even any schoolboy knows about it. Since then, however, to call an applet has beenadded a few other options. As an alternative method, a combination of three keys can be used, but using Ctrl + Shift + Esc. You can also use the RMB menu on the Taskbar. But few people know that you can call this applet from the "Run" menu by entering the abbreviation taskmgr ("Task Manager" of Windows 7 or even XP can also be launched in this way in the program launch line).
By the way, if you want, you can immediately create a quick launch shortcut. Since the console itself was originally designed to launch applications that are located in the System32 directory, you can also use the direct launch of the taskmgr.exe executable file directly from Explorer. But for 64-bit systems, all services are duplicated in the SysWOW64 directory, so the question of how to open the Task Manager can also be solved by starting the file in this directory, although, by and large, there is absolutely no fundamental difference.
Practical use
Now a few words about some additional features of this service. It’s worth saying right away that the “Task Manager” of Windows 7 is quite different from its counterpart in the tenth version of the system. The fact is that in Windows 10 this applet got the ability to control the so-called system startup, which was previously available only in the configurator (msconfig). In addition, the updated version has a division into system, background and user processes.
But that's not the point. "Dispatchertasks" of any OS, for example, when detecting viruses, it allows you to track the location of suspicious processes. To do this, use the RMB menu with the choice of going to the file location. In addition, it is just as easy to navigate to the services section, where you can stop an unnecessary process or change its launch parameters.
What should I do if the Dispatcher cannot be opened?
Usually, the situation when the "Task Manager" does not start is associated with the effects of viruses. You can fix problems through the Group Policy Editor (gpedit.msc), where through the administrative templates and the system section, you should access the action selection item after pressing the Ctrl + "Image" + Del keys. On the right there is a line for deleting the "Task Manager". If you have the value "Not configured" or "Enabled" when entering parameter editing, you need to change it to the disabled state.
You can also use the registry editor (regedit), where in the HKCU branch you need to sequentially go to the Policies section, and in the System subdirectory change the value of the DisableTaskMgr parameter from one to zero.
In the meantime, it's worth checking the HKLM branch for a similar parameter. If it is in the same section there, it must be deleted.
Instead of total
This is a brief introduction to the "Task Manager" service. It seems that the main points related to its launch and main features have become clear to many, as well as the difference in applet options in different operating systems. SamoIt goes without saying that this service is not a panacea for all the ills of Windows systems, however, in some cases it can become the only possible tool for terminating processes, for identifying too “gluttonous” processes or even the location of virus files or folders. Of course, you can use third-party programs of a similar type (there are plenty of them now). But why, if the operating system itself has its own tool of very good quality?
